THE DIVING BELL. If you take a glass tumbler, and plunge it in water with the mouth downwards, you will perceive that very little water will enter into it. The air which filled the glass before it was put in water, prevents the entrance of the water into the glass; but as air is compressible, it could not entirely exclude the water, which, by its pressure, condensed the air a little. Upon this simple principle machines have been invented, by which people have been able to walk about at the bottom of the sea, with as much safety as upon the surface of the earth. The original instrument of this kind was much improved by Dr. Halley, more than a century ago. This machine was made of copper in the shape of a bell. The diameter of the bottom was five feet, that of the top three feet, and it was eight feet high; to make the vessel sink vertically in water, the bottom was loaded with a quantity of leaden balls. Light was let into the bell by means of strong spherical glasses fixed in Barrels, filled with fresh the top of the machine. air, were made sufficiently heavy, and sent down, from which a leathern pipe communicated with the inside of the bell, and a stop-cock at the upper part of the bell let out the foul air. FATE OF THE FIRST BALLOON ASCENSION. THE fate of M. P. de Rozier, the first aërial navigator, and of his companion M. Romain, has been much lamented. They ascended at Bologne, on July 15, 1785, with an intention of crossing the channel to England. Their machine consisted of a spherical balloon, thirty-seven feet in diameter, filled with inflammable air, and under this balloon was suspended a small montgolfier, or fireballoon, ten feet in diameter. This montgolfier was designed for rarefying the atmospheric air, and thus diminishing the specific gravity of the whole apparatus. For the first twenty minutes they seemed to pursue the proper course; but the balloon appeared to be much inflated, and the aëronauts appeared anxious to descend. Soon, however, when they were at the height of about threequarters of a mile, the whole apparatus was in flames, and the unfortunate adventurers fell to the ground, and were killed on the spot. A FIELD FLOWER. THERE is a flower, a little flower, The prouder beauties of the field In gay but quick succession shine; Race after race their honours yield; They flourish and decline. But this small flower, to Nature dear, While moons and stars their courses run, Wreathes the whole circle of the year, Companion of the Sun. It smiles upon the lap of May, To sultry August spreads its charms, The purple heath and golden broom, But this bold floweret climbs the hill, Plays on the margin of the rill, Peeps round the fox's den. Within the garden's cultured round, The lambkin crops its crimson gem, 'Tis FLORA's page: in every place, On waste and woodland, rock and plain, EVENNESS OF TEMPER. Ir is related of Dr. Hough, Bishop of Worcester, who was remarkable for the evenness of his temper, that having a good deal of company at his house, a gentleman present desired his lordship to show him a curious weather-glass, which the Bishop had lately purchased, and which cost him above thirty guineas. The servant was accordingly ordered to bring it; who, in delivering it to the gentleman, unfortunately let it fall, and broke it all to pieces. The company were all a little deranged from this accident, but particularly the gentleman who asked to see it, and who was making many apologies for the accident. "Be under no concern, my dear Sir!" said the Bishop, smiling; "I think it rather a lucky omen: hitherto had a dry season, and now shall have some rain; for I protes member ever to have seen the glass so low in my life." we have I hope we do not re THE FAMILY EXPOSITOR. MR. W. a merchant at Boston, according to his wonted liberality, sent a present of chocolate, sugar, &c. to the Rev. Dr. B. with a billet desiring his acceptance of it as a comment on Gal. vi. 6, "Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." The Doctor, who was then confined by sickness, returned his compliments to Mr. W. thanked him for his excellent family expositor, and wished Mr. W. to give him a practical exposition of Matt. xxv. 36. "I was sick, and ye visited me." |